Detachable weight structure



J. F. RAVENSCROFT DETACHABLE WEIGHT STRUCTURE Oct. 17, 1950 Filed 001;. 18, 1948 IN VEN TOR.

42 daszw/ fPwzA/xw z ATTOZA/E Y6 Patented Oct; 17, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,526,412 I I DETACHABLE WEIGHT STRUCTURE Joseph F. Ravenscroft, Elkhart, Ind. Application October 18, 1948, Serial No. 55,220

3 Claims.

This invention'relates to detachable weight structures, and particularly-to a weight structure adapted to be mounted detachably and in predetermined position upon a flexible elongated member, such as an extension cord connected with an electrical appliance.

The objects of the invention are to provide a device of this character which is simple and inexpensive in construction, easy to apply and remove from a'fiexible member, such as an electric cord, which is retained against accidentalzrelease or disconnection from its'flexible mounting, and

which includes retainers readily operable and ad- Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on line 44 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing which illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral m designates the top or working panel of any conventional domestic ironing board mounted upon the hinged intersecting legs I2. It will be understood that the ironing board may be of collapsible character, if desired, and that any type of ironing board found suitable may be employed. Upon the rear end of the top panel ll) of the ironing board is mounted a cord guide of any suitable construction. In the form here illustrated, the guide is formed of rigid material,

such as wire, having a'pair of spaced upright runs iii and a cord guide portion therebetween. Runs 56 extending at an angle to the runs hi are preferably formed integrally therewith and are substantially straight to provide a firm flat bearing engagement thereof with the top surface of the board H3. The runs l6 terminate in curved end portions I8 which extend downwardly around the rear edge of the board In and engage the all) lower surface thereof at their ends. The bent parts lfl preferably constitute spring members which serve to grip the board and to hold the bracket unit as a whole in the position illustrated. The construction of the bracket l4, l6, l8 is illustrative only, and it will be understood that any other type of bracket providing a guide for a cord may be employed. An electric hand iron 29 of any suitable construction and usable 'for the purpose of ironing clothing supported upon panel In is provided with an elongated flexible electric conductor, commonly known in the art as a cord. This cord mounts at its free end a connector 24 adapted to fit in a conventional electric wall socket or outlet, as is well understood in the art. The cord or conductor 22 is passed over and positioned to be supported by the bracket M as illustrated.

I connect my improved weight structure 30 to the portion of the cord 22 between the connector 24 and the part of the cord-22 engaged bythe bracket M in use, so that the cord will hang freely in a loop having a run 32 from the connector 24 to the weight 30 and'a run 34 between the weight and the bracket M. The weight structure comprises a body 35 formed of lead or any other suitable material. This body is of generally cylindrical outline or contour, and the ends 38 thereof are preferably semi-spherical in shape. It will be understood, however, that this weight body may be of any other shape or contour found suitable ordesirable. A longitudinal groove 40 is formed in the weight, the same preferably being of a size to snugly receive a conventional insulated electric cord or conductor therein. The body 36 is provided with two or more circumferential grooves 42 whichare open at the side walls of the longitudinal groove 48, as best seen in Fig. 3. In the form here shown, two grooves are provided, located in the cylindrical portion of the body and adjacent to the curved or part-spherical'end portions 38 in substantially equi-spaced relation to the opposite end tips of the weight body; Arouate spring members 44 of a cross-sectional size to fit snugly in the circumferential groove 42 serve as cord retainers. The retainers M are normally bent or formed in an arc with the small diameter inner portion thereof formed on a radius slightly less than the radius of the base of the grooves 42, whereby said retainers have a constrictive fitwithin said grooves. The retainers preferably extend through at least 270 degrees and are of such a length that their opposite ends 46 are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to or slightly less than the width of the longitudinal groove 40.

;; out interference when the rings are positioned as illustrated in Fig. 2.

rotated in the grooves to the position illustrated Thereupon the rings are in Fig. 3, thereby causing an intermediate portion of each of the retainers M to overlie the cord 22. The sizeof the longitudinal groove 40 is preferably such that the cord 22 will fit snugly therein, and the depth of the groove is such that the outer portion of the surface of the cord will be engaged by the retainers M while the inner portion of its surface rests against the innermost spaced therebetween. Ehe lugs 48 serve, as illustrated I in Fig. to form a bend or kink in the wire beportion of the surface of the groove. The conventional construction of electric conductors or cords connected to electric irons and other uten- 5115 today entails the imbedding of conductors in a generally cylindrical body of rubber having a certain degree of compressibility. For this purpose it may be desirable to make the groove 43 of such a dimension that the spacing radially of the weight between the deepest point of the groove and the inner surface of the retainer will be slightly less than the transverse thickness of the cord, so that the retainer may serve to slightly compress the cord and thus insure a tight none slipping grip thereof by the weight body and the retainers. It will be understood, however, that the device will work with equal facility in the event'that the groove it is of larger dimension than described above, in which event th cord will pass freely through said groove and between the same and the retainer and may slide relative to the weight body. For some uses or embodiments of the invention, the sliding of the weight may be desirable. In all other respects, however, it will be understood that the construction will be the same, and further, that a sufiiciently constrictive or gripping action will be exerted by the retainers upon the body of the weight to hold said spring members against free circumferential movement in their mounting grooves. For the same purpose the retainer grooves 42 will be of a size to snugly receive the retainers therein. Thus if the retainers 44 are formed of circular cross-section, the grooves 42 will preferably be of semi-circular cross-section with a radius substantially equal to the radius of the transverse curvature of the retainer members. In the event the retainers are formed of non-circular crosssectional configuration, the grooves will then be formed of a similar cross-sectional shape. The depth of the grooves 42 in all cases will be such as to securely hold the retainers against accidental release, as by movement in a manner to slide the retainers lengthwise of the weight body.

In order to facilitate and insure non-slipping connection of the weight upon the cord, the slot or groove may be provided with projections 3 at its base, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4. One or more of the projections 48 are provided in relation to the rings 44 and positioned tween the cord or conductor between the retainer rings 12 by reason of the fact that the lugs prevent the cord from seating snugly in the base of the groove for its full length, so that the portion of the cord adjacent the central portion of the weight body is outwardly ofiset while the retainer rings adjacent the opposite ends of the body urge the cord into firm seated engagement with the base of the groove. The formation of this bend or kink in the cord or conductor insures against any possibility of slipping or sliding of the weight upon the cord. While the offsets 48 have been illustrated as constituting small lugs or projections, it will be understood that any other means found suitable may be employed for this purpose, such as the provision of a roughened or toothed surface in the groove or slot 49. Care should be exercised, however, to avoid sharp edges which might tend to cut the insulating sheath of the wire conductor, as upon accidental contact of the weight with an obstacle in such a manner as to force the weight lengthwise upon the cord, since,

under such circumstances, the occurrence of sharp edges would tend to out the insulation sheath.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated .and described herein, it will be understood that changes may be made in the construction within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

l. The combination with a flexible insulated electric conductor having a compressible sheath, of a weight body having a conductor-receiving slot and peripheral circular groove lying in a plane transverse of said slot, and a split annular resilient-retainer seated in' said groove and rotatable in its plane, the end portions of said retainer being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the transverse dimension of said conductor, said slot being of a depth to position the outermost portion of said conductor in the path of said retainer, whereby said retainer frictionally engages, and compresses said sheath when positioned to span said slot.

2. lhe combination with a flexible insulated electric conductor having a compressible sheath, of a weight body having a conductor-receiving slot and peripheral circular groove lying in a plane transverse of said slot, and a split annular resilient retainer seated in said groove and rotatable in its plane, the end portions of said retainer being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the transverse dimension of said conductor, the surface of said slot including a and rotatable in its plane to span said slot and engage a conductor seated in said slot, the end portions of said retainer being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the transverse dimension of said conductor, said body having a projection interrupting the base of said slot between and spaced longitudinally from said retainers and cooperating therewith to define a bend in said cord between the portions thereof engaged by said retainers.

JOSEPH F. RAVENSCROFT.

H REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 327,100 Palm Sept. 29, 1885 581,853 Eakins May 4, 1897 741,480 Fuller et a1 Oct. 13, 1903 1,424,803 Corbett Aug. 8, 1922 1,504,884 Garst Aug. 12, 1924 1,522,684 Howard Jan. 13, 1925 1,916,937 Schlaburg July 4, 1933 2,254,955 Yett Sept. 2, 1941 2,474,498 Schwabe June 28, 1949 

